Julie Olson Williams
Encyclopedia
Julie Williams is a fictional character on the NBC daytime drama, Days of our Lives
, a long running serial about working class life in the ficitonal town of Salem
. The character of Julie was introduced as a 16-year-old when the show premiered in 1965, with 22-year-old Charla Doherty
being the first actress to play Julie. The role is unsuccessfully recast twice with Catherine Dunn in 1967, followed by Catherine Ferrar
from 1967-1968. The role is then taken over by actress Susan Seaforth Hayes
in 1968, who still portrays the character to this day. Julie is the only original character to regularly be portrayed on the serial. Hayes is the second longest running cast member surpassed only by Frances Reid
, who died in 2010. Hayes is most recognizable in the role, having portrayed the character in the show all six decades it has been on the air.
Doug Williams and Julie Olson
were the first super couple in the history of the daytime industry. The January 12, 1976 cover of Time
magazine featured Days of our Lives Bill Hayes and Susan Seaforth Hayes
, the first and only daytime actors to ever appear on its cover. The Hayeses themselves were a couple whose onscreen and real-life romance (they met on the series in 1970 and married in 1974) was widely covered by both the soap opera magazines and the mainstream press.
Julie was often the subject of notable press during the time on her serial. Widely read magazines would routinely publish forthcoming developments in her storylines. For her work as Julie, Susan Seaforth Hayes
has been nominated for an Emmy 4 times for Outstanding Actressin a Daytime Drama Series (1975, 1976, 1978, and 1979). No other actress has received as many nominations for their work on DOOL. She has also won two oapy Award]s] for Best Actress and Favorite Romantic Female
in 1977. She has been described as a legend, and television icon for the soap.
and Irna Phillips
created Julie in the 1960s as part of the story bible for Days of our Lives, a light-hearted soap opera focusing on the troubles of its core family, the Hortons. The Cordays and Bell combined the "hospital soap" idea with the tradition of centering a series on a family, by making the show about a family of doctors, including one who worked in a mental hospital. The Julie character officially aired on November 8, 1965 when the show premiered on NBC in color. Julie was the sole character to represent the younger side of the series' main family compared to her adult co-stars. She was the first character to ever speak on the serial when it first broadcast in 1965, and was also the star of the two main scenes in the serial. Julie was also the first to mention the last name of the series when she gave a false name (Julie Horton) to a police officer when he arrested her for theft of a mink stole.
originated the role of Julie on November 8, 1965 when the show first premiered. Doherty had been in previous short roles on Wagon Train
and Dr. Kildare
. Charla was quite a bit younger than her co-stars when the show first aired in 1965. Frances Reid
was in her sixties, as was MacDonald Carey
. Maree Cheatham
, John Clarke
, and Patricia Hudson were all in their early thirties, with Doherty being in her early twenties during her first few years on the program.
In 1967, Doherty departed the serial to focus on other career options. The role went through a series of unsuccessful recasts in a short amount of time. The show replaced Doherty in '67 with actress Catherine Dunn, who was in turn replaced by Catherine Ferrar that same year. Both actresses proved to be unpopular in the role, and were both fired in the same year. William J. Bell
- the show's main writer at the time - decided to give the character a short break from the serial. It was not until 1968 that the character resurfaced again.
In 1968, the character was brought back onto the canvas. The role was now played by newcomer actress, Susan Seaforth Hayes
. At the time she was simply credited as "Susan Seaforth" because she had not yet met her husband Bill. Susan had not been in any previous soap roles, but made a few appearances on Hallmark Hall of Fame, Bonanza
, and Dragnet. In portraying Julie, the actress drew on the "self-centered" and "haughty" traits she recognized in herself while in college. In 1970, Bill Hayes joined the cast as Doug Williams. The Hayeses themselves were a couple whose onscreen and real-life romance (they met on the series in 1970) was widely covered by both the soap opera magazines and the mainstream press. Bill and Susan eventually fell in love and married, becoming the first soap couple to be together in real life (they married in 1974). With Frances Reid's passing in 2010, Susan Hayes is the only cast member to have aired on Days of our Lives in all six decades that it has been on the air. Macdonald Carey often helped her in her early years on the show.
By the late 1970s, a different set of character types was established, including the chic
suburbanite, the subtle single, the traditional family person, the successful professional, and the elegant socialite
. Julie was in the elegant socialite category which comprised "flashy", achievement-oriented characters that often loved their families and friends. Like others in this category, Julie was written as "flamboyant", "frivolous and carefree". Overall, Julie is the embodiment of "young hero", a soap opera archetype that "transformed and defined" the soap opera genre. Irna Phillips
, Nixon, and William J. Bell
created the archetype in the 1960s and it became one of their defining legacies. The archetype is an assertive Cinderella
who goes after material things.
Whereas most of the other female characters in Days of our Lives were portrayed in a somewhat more glamorous working class way, Julie Olson was the exception to the rule, being the sole character to represent the emotional side of the Horton family. As the serial progresses, Julie grew and matured much like the other characters. After the death of her mother Addie Horton
in 1974, Julie matured into a young heroine, often helping to raise her baby sister, Hope Williams. Julie married Doug in the seventies and the two have remained relatively intact ever since. They are known as daytime's first supercouple.
and Ben Olson. As Days of our Lives beings in 1965, Julie is a rebellious teenager part of the series's Horton family. In the first episode, Julie steals an expensive mink stole from a department store and is caught by a security guard and arrested. Julie moves in with her grandparents, Tom and Alice Horton, when her parents move to Europe. She plans on eloping with David Martin, but backs out after talking to Tom about it. Later, Julie pursues David while he is married to her best friend Susan, and maintains hpe that he will leave Susan one day and marry her. However, that dream is shattered in 1967 when Susan, who blames David for the death of their son, kills David. During Susan Martin's court trial Julie is exposed as being pregnant with David Martin's child. Julie eventually gives birth to a son who she names David, and following her Grandfather's advice, she gives the child up for adoption. The baby is adopted by Scott and Janet Banning. After Janet dies of a brain tumor, Julie marries Scott and they raise David together.
In December 1970, Julie meets Doug Williams, who at the time is being paid by Susan Martin to have an affair with Julie. Julie falls in love with Doug, and vice versa. In 1973, Julie's husband Scott is killed in a construction accident while working for Anderson Manufacturing. Phyllis and Bob Anderson feel guilty and offer Julie a house and financial support, and Bob soon divorces Phyllis and marries Julie. Julie is dealt another blow when she learns her mother (Addie) is expecting a child with Doug, and on December 24, 1974, Addie gives birth to Hope Williams. Addie comes out of her coma and makes Julie promise to care for the baby and Doug. Shortly after, Addie goes into remission but is the victim of a hit and run when she pushes baby Hope out of the way of an oncoming car.
In 1976, Julie divorces Bob Anderson and reunites with Doug and they become engaged. Shortly after, Kim Douglas shows up in Salem claiming to the legal wife of Brent Douglas, Doug's real name. After a few months Kim eventually reveals that she and Doug had been divorced for many years, and Julie and Doug marry. In 1977 Doug falls on hard times when he loses his liquor license and, eventually, the club. Julie buys back the club and turns it into Doug's Coffee House, but Doug is forced to leave Salem for awhile to take care of business elsewhere. During his absence Julie faces problems with the club staff, and Larry Atwood helps her through it. Julie is not aware that Larry has set Doug up in a dope bust to keep him out of Salem while he goes after Julie. In 1979, Julie is badly burned by Maggie Horton
's oven when it blows up in her face. When Julie sees the scars from her injuries she is sure that Doug will no longer want her as his wife. When a reconstructive operation fails, Julie flies to Mexico and gets a divorce behind Doug's back. She then has a successful operation, and reunites with Doug shortly after. In 1986, Julie and Doug divorce once again, and both leave Salem.
Julie returns to the show in 1990 when her partner Nick is murdered. Doug returns to town later, and the two once again begin their romance until their second departure in 1994. Julie and Doug come back to town for a visit in 2004 and are soon enmeshed in the Salem serial killer storyline. Julie is devastated when Doug is killed by the serial killer, and begins to focus on helping Mickey get over Maggie while keeping him from his avaricious housekeeper Bonnie. When Maggie and Doug turn up alive and well, Doug and Julie work to help Maggie get Mickey (who is now married to Bonnie) back. Their joint effort is ultimately successful. In the summer of 2006, Doug and Julie come to town to discover that Lexie has been kept prisoner in the tunnels underneath the old "Doug's Place". They help rescue Lexie and nurse her back to health. Doug and Julie return the following summer in 2007 for Bo and Hope's 4th of July BBQ, and they advice to Bo and Hope about dealing with Chelsea dating someone of whom they do not initially approve. They return a few weeks later to watch Bo and Hope renew their wedding vows. When Frances Reid
dies in 2010, Julie and Doug return for Alice's on screen tribute. In general, since roughly 1999, Doug and Julie have tended to come and go from Salem, appearing sporadically a few times a year whenever the storyline calls for them.
Critics originally praised the show for its non-reliance on nostalgia (in contrast to shows such as As the World Turns
) and its portrayal of "real American contemporary families." By the 1970s, critics deemed Days the most daring daytime drama, as it led the way in using then-controversial themes that other shows of the period avoided, such as artificial insemination
and interracial romance
. The January 12, 1976 cover of Time
magazine featured Days of our Livess Bill Hayes and Susan Seaforth Hayes
, the first and only daytime actors to ever appear on its cover. The Hayeses themselves were a couple whose onscreen and real-life romance (they met on the series in 1970 and married in 1974) was widely covered by both the soap opera magazines and the mainstream press.
Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives is a long running daytime soap opera broadcast on the NBC television network. It is one of the longest-running scripted television programs in the world, airing nearly every weekday in the United States since November 8, 1965. It has since been syndicated to many countries around...
, a long running serial about working class life in the ficitonal town of Salem
Salem (Days of our Lives)
The town of Salem is the setting for the U.S. soap opera Days of our Lives. It is located in the Midwestern United States, though the state is never mentioned. It was built and named in 1802, since Salem celebrated its 200-year birthday in 2002. Originally set in New England, the vague setting was...
. The character of Julie was introduced as a 16-year-old when the show premiered in 1965, with 22-year-old Charla Doherty
Charla Doherty
Charla Doherty was an American actress who had short roles on Wagon Train and Dr. Kildare before originating the role of Julie Olson on the soap opera Days of our Lives....
being the first actress to play Julie. The role is unsuccessfully recast twice with Catherine Dunn in 1967, followed by Catherine Ferrar
Catherine Ferrar
Catherine Ferrar is an American actress, who played for television. She is mostly known for playing the character of Julie Olson Williams in Days of our Lives in 1967-68 and for the lead role of Nancy Murphy in the show The Sixth Sense with Gary Collins...
from 1967-1968. The role is then taken over by actress Susan Seaforth Hayes
Susan Seaforth Hayes
Susan Seaforth Hayes is an American dramatic actress. She is best known for her portrayal of Julie Williams on the long-running NBC drama Days of our Lives, and her intermittent portrayal of JoAnna Manning on the CBS daytime drama The Young and the Restless...
in 1968, who still portrays the character to this day. Julie is the only original character to regularly be portrayed on the serial. Hayes is the second longest running cast member surpassed only by Frances Reid
Frances Reid
Frances Reid was an American dramatic actress. Although she starred in many productions, she is best known for her portrayal of Alice Horton on the NBC daytime soap opera Days of our Lives from its debut in November 1965 until her death on February 3, 2010.-Biography:Born in Wichita Falls, Texas,...
, who died in 2010. Hayes is most recognizable in the role, having portrayed the character in the show all six decades it has been on the air.
Doug Williams and Julie Olson
Doug Williams and Julie Olson
Douglas Williams and Julie Olson Williams are fictional characters and a supercouple from the American daytime drama Days of our Lives. Doug and Julie are considered to be the first supercouple in daytime television history. Doug is portrayed by Bill Hayes and Julie is portrayed by Susan Seaforth...
were the first super couple in the history of the daytime industry. The January 12, 1976 cover of Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
magazine featured Days of our Lives Bill Hayes and Susan Seaforth Hayes
Susan Seaforth Hayes
Susan Seaforth Hayes is an American dramatic actress. She is best known for her portrayal of Julie Williams on the long-running NBC drama Days of our Lives, and her intermittent portrayal of JoAnna Manning on the CBS daytime drama The Young and the Restless...
, the first and only daytime actors to ever appear on its cover. The Hayeses themselves were a couple whose onscreen and real-life romance (they met on the series in 1970 and married in 1974) was widely covered by both the soap opera magazines and the mainstream press.
Julie was often the subject of notable press during the time on her serial. Widely read magazines would routinely publish forthcoming developments in her storylines. For her work as Julie, Susan Seaforth Hayes
Susan Seaforth Hayes
Susan Seaforth Hayes is an American dramatic actress. She is best known for her portrayal of Julie Williams on the long-running NBC drama Days of our Lives, and her intermittent portrayal of JoAnna Manning on the CBS daytime drama The Young and the Restless...
has been nominated for an Emmy 4 times for Outstanding Actressin a Daytime Drama Series (1975, 1976, 1978, and 1979). No other actress has received as many nominations for their work on DOOL. She has also won two oapy Award]s] for Best Actress and Favorite Romantic Female
Soapy Awards
The Soapy Awards were an award presented by Soap Opera Digest magazine to the best work on American soap operas from 1977 until 1983. Unlike their successors, the Soap Opera Digest Awards, this accolade lacked a great deal of glamour. The statue itself was a tall geometic crystal were presented...
in 1977. She has been described as a legend, and television icon for the soap.
Background
Ted CordayTed Corday
Theodore "Ted" Corday was a producer, director and creator of many American serials.Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Corday graduated from the University of Alberta and studied law before moving to the United States in 1934...
and Irna Phillips
Irna Phillips
Irna Phillips was an American actress and most notably writer who created and scripted many of the first American soap operas.Phillips created radio and TV soap operas including:...
created Julie in the 1960s as part of the story bible for Days of our Lives, a light-hearted soap opera focusing on the troubles of its core family, the Hortons. The Cordays and Bell combined the "hospital soap" idea with the tradition of centering a series on a family, by making the show about a family of doctors, including one who worked in a mental hospital. The Julie character officially aired on November 8, 1965 when the show premiered on NBC in color. Julie was the sole character to represent the younger side of the series' main family compared to her adult co-stars. She was the first character to ever speak on the serial when it first broadcast in 1965, and was also the star of the two main scenes in the serial. Julie was also the first to mention the last name of the series when she gave a false name (Julie Horton) to a police officer when he arrested her for theft of a mink stole.
Casting
At the time, soap operas featured mostly older casts. To add a contemporary feel to the show, Corday and Philips focused on younger characters, while also mixing in older ones so as not to lose traditional soap opera viewers. Charla DohertyCharla Doherty
Charla Doherty was an American actress who had short roles on Wagon Train and Dr. Kildare before originating the role of Julie Olson on the soap opera Days of our Lives....
originated the role of Julie on November 8, 1965 when the show first premiered. Doherty had been in previous short roles on Wagon Train
Wagon Train
Wagon Train is an American Western series that ran on NBC from 1957–62 and then on ABC from 1962–65...
and Dr. Kildare
Dr. Kildare
Dr. James Kildare is a fictional character, the primary character in a series of American theatrical films in the late 1930s and early 1940s, an early 1950s radio series, a 1960s television series of the same name and a comic book based on the TV show, and a short-lived 1970s television series...
. Charla was quite a bit younger than her co-stars when the show first aired in 1965. Frances Reid
Frances Reid
Frances Reid was an American dramatic actress. Although she starred in many productions, she is best known for her portrayal of Alice Horton on the NBC daytime soap opera Days of our Lives from its debut in November 1965 until her death on February 3, 2010.-Biography:Born in Wichita Falls, Texas,...
was in her sixties, as was MacDonald Carey
Macdonald Carey
Edward Macdonald Carey was an American actor, best known for his role as the patriarch Dr. Tom Horton on NBC's soap opera Days of our Lives...
. Maree Cheatham
Maree Cheatham
Maree Cheatham is an American actress, best known for her television appearances. She was credited for much of her career as Marie Cheatham....
, John Clarke
John Clarke (actor)
John Clarke is an American actor.John Clark was the first actor to play Mickey Horton on the American soap opera Days of our Lives, starring on the show from its debut in 1965 until he retired early in 2004 due to health concerns. He was replaced in the role by John Ingle, who left in 2006...
, and Patricia Hudson were all in their early thirties, with Doherty being in her early twenties during her first few years on the program.
In 1967, Doherty departed the serial to focus on other career options. The role went through a series of unsuccessful recasts in a short amount of time. The show replaced Doherty in '67 with actress Catherine Dunn, who was in turn replaced by Catherine Ferrar that same year. Both actresses proved to be unpopular in the role, and were both fired in the same year. William J. Bell
William J. Bell
William J. Bell was the creator and executive producer of the soap operas The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful.-Personal life:...
- the show's main writer at the time - decided to give the character a short break from the serial. It was not until 1968 that the character resurfaced again.
In 1968, the character was brought back onto the canvas. The role was now played by newcomer actress, Susan Seaforth Hayes
Susan Seaforth Hayes
Susan Seaforth Hayes is an American dramatic actress. She is best known for her portrayal of Julie Williams on the long-running NBC drama Days of our Lives, and her intermittent portrayal of JoAnna Manning on the CBS daytime drama The Young and the Restless...
. At the time she was simply credited as "Susan Seaforth" because she had not yet met her husband Bill. Susan had not been in any previous soap roles, but made a few appearances on Hallmark Hall of Fame, Bonanza
Bonanza
Bonanza is an American western television series that both ran on and was a production of NBC from September 12, 1959 to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 430 episodes, it ranks as the second longest running western series and still continues to air in syndication. It centers on the...
, and Dragnet. In portraying Julie, the actress drew on the "self-centered" and "haughty" traits she recognized in herself while in college. In 1970, Bill Hayes joined the cast as Doug Williams. The Hayeses themselves were a couple whose onscreen and real-life romance (they met on the series in 1970) was widely covered by both the soap opera magazines and the mainstream press. Bill and Susan eventually fell in love and married, becoming the first soap couple to be together in real life (they married in 1974). With Frances Reid's passing in 2010, Susan Hayes is the only cast member to have aired on Days of our Lives in all six decades that it has been on the air. Macdonald Carey often helped her in her early years on the show.
Archetypes
Over the years Julie developed into different character archetypes. Soap operas once featured only one-dimensional characters who were either good or bad. By the 1970s, characters were written with more depth, fitting into archetypes consisting of the young-and-vulnerable romantic heroine, the old-fashioned villain, the rival, the suffering antagonist, Mr. Right, the former playboy, the meddlesome and villainous mother/grandmother, the benevolent mother/grandmother, and the career woman. Julie was established as the rival to Susan Martin's young-and-vulnerable romantic heroine. As the rival, Julie was written as a younger leading heroine, often portraying her vulnerable sides. Julie was generally positioned as the main protagonist being part of the prestigious Horton family.By the late 1970s, a different set of character types was established, including the chic
Chic (style)
Chic , meaning 'stylish' or 'smart', is an element of fashion.-Etymology:Chic is a French word, established in English since at least the 1870s...
suburbanite, the subtle single, the traditional family person, the successful professional, and the elegant socialite
Socialite
A socialite is a person who participates in social activities and spends a significant amount of time entertaining and being entertained at fashionable upper-class events....
. Julie was in the elegant socialite category which comprised "flashy", achievement-oriented characters that often loved their families and friends. Like others in this category, Julie was written as "flamboyant", "frivolous and carefree". Overall, Julie is the embodiment of "young hero", a soap opera archetype that "transformed and defined" the soap opera genre. Irna Phillips
Irna Phillips
Irna Phillips was an American actress and most notably writer who created and scripted many of the first American soap operas.Phillips created radio and TV soap operas including:...
, Nixon, and William J. Bell
William J. Bell
William J. Bell was the creator and executive producer of the soap operas The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful.-Personal life:...
created the archetype in the 1960s and it became one of their defining legacies. The archetype is an assertive Cinderella
Cinderella
"Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper" is a folk tale embodying a myth-element of unjust oppression/triumphant reward. Thousands of variants are known throughout the world. The title character is a young woman living in unfortunate circumstances that are suddenly changed to remarkable fortune...
who goes after material things.
Lineage and Personality
Julie is a headstrong teenager when Days of our Lives premiered in 1965. She is part of the soaps core family, the Hortons, around which the soap was originally structured. At the beginning of the serial in 1965, Julie was a 16 year old schoolgirl. The fictional history of her younger years has been told via behind-the-scenes books such as Days of our Lives: The True Story of one Family's Dream, and the second tie-in novel by Ken Corday, which explains that Julie was born and raised in Salem with the rest of her family before the show premiered.Whereas most of the other female characters in Days of our Lives were portrayed in a somewhat more glamorous working class way, Julie Olson was the exception to the rule, being the sole character to represent the emotional side of the Horton family. As the serial progresses, Julie grew and matured much like the other characters. After the death of her mother Addie Horton
Addie Horton
Adelaide "Addie" Williams is a fictional character on the television soap opera Days of our Lives. The role has been portrayed by actresses Patricia Huston and Patricia Barry from 1971 to 1974....
in 1974, Julie matured into a young heroine, often helping to raise her baby sister, Hope Williams. Julie married Doug in the seventies and the two have remained relatively intact ever since. They are known as daytime's first supercouple.
Storylines
Julie is the child of Addie HortonAddie Horton
Adelaide "Addie" Williams is a fictional character on the television soap opera Days of our Lives. The role has been portrayed by actresses Patricia Huston and Patricia Barry from 1971 to 1974....
and Ben Olson. As Days of our Lives beings in 1965, Julie is a rebellious teenager part of the series's Horton family. In the first episode, Julie steals an expensive mink stole from a department store and is caught by a security guard and arrested. Julie moves in with her grandparents, Tom and Alice Horton, when her parents move to Europe. She plans on eloping with David Martin, but backs out after talking to Tom about it. Later, Julie pursues David while he is married to her best friend Susan, and maintains hpe that he will leave Susan one day and marry her. However, that dream is shattered in 1967 when Susan, who blames David for the death of their son, kills David. During Susan Martin's court trial Julie is exposed as being pregnant with David Martin's child. Julie eventually gives birth to a son who she names David, and following her Grandfather's advice, she gives the child up for adoption. The baby is adopted by Scott and Janet Banning. After Janet dies of a brain tumor, Julie marries Scott and they raise David together.
In December 1970, Julie meets Doug Williams, who at the time is being paid by Susan Martin to have an affair with Julie. Julie falls in love with Doug, and vice versa. In 1973, Julie's husband Scott is killed in a construction accident while working for Anderson Manufacturing. Phyllis and Bob Anderson feel guilty and offer Julie a house and financial support, and Bob soon divorces Phyllis and marries Julie. Julie is dealt another blow when she learns her mother (Addie) is expecting a child with Doug, and on December 24, 1974, Addie gives birth to Hope Williams. Addie comes out of her coma and makes Julie promise to care for the baby and Doug. Shortly after, Addie goes into remission but is the victim of a hit and run when she pushes baby Hope out of the way of an oncoming car.
In 1976, Julie divorces Bob Anderson and reunites with Doug and they become engaged. Shortly after, Kim Douglas shows up in Salem claiming to the legal wife of Brent Douglas, Doug's real name. After a few months Kim eventually reveals that she and Doug had been divorced for many years, and Julie and Doug marry. In 1977 Doug falls on hard times when he loses his liquor license and, eventually, the club. Julie buys back the club and turns it into Doug's Coffee House, but Doug is forced to leave Salem for awhile to take care of business elsewhere. During his absence Julie faces problems with the club staff, and Larry Atwood helps her through it. Julie is not aware that Larry has set Doug up in a dope bust to keep him out of Salem while he goes after Julie. In 1979, Julie is badly burned by Maggie Horton
Maggie Horton
Margaret "Maggie" Horton is a fictional character from the NBC soap opera Days of our Lives, a long-running serial drama about working class life in the fictional town of Salem. She has been portrayed by actress Suzanne Rogers continuously since 1973, though she left the show briefly in 1984 and...
's oven when it blows up in her face. When Julie sees the scars from her injuries she is sure that Doug will no longer want her as his wife. When a reconstructive operation fails, Julie flies to Mexico and gets a divorce behind Doug's back. She then has a successful operation, and reunites with Doug shortly after. In 1986, Julie and Doug divorce once again, and both leave Salem.
Julie returns to the show in 1990 when her partner Nick is murdered. Doug returns to town later, and the two once again begin their romance until their second departure in 1994. Julie and Doug come back to town for a visit in 2004 and are soon enmeshed in the Salem serial killer storyline. Julie is devastated when Doug is killed by the serial killer, and begins to focus on helping Mickey get over Maggie while keeping him from his avaricious housekeeper Bonnie. When Maggie and Doug turn up alive and well, Doug and Julie work to help Maggie get Mickey (who is now married to Bonnie) back. Their joint effort is ultimately successful. In the summer of 2006, Doug and Julie come to town to discover that Lexie has been kept prisoner in the tunnels underneath the old "Doug's Place". They help rescue Lexie and nurse her back to health. Doug and Julie return the following summer in 2007 for Bo and Hope's 4th of July BBQ, and they advice to Bo and Hope about dealing with Chelsea dating someone of whom they do not initially approve. They return a few weeks later to watch Bo and Hope renew their wedding vows. When Frances Reid
Frances Reid
Frances Reid was an American dramatic actress. Although she starred in many productions, she is best known for her portrayal of Alice Horton on the NBC daytime soap opera Days of our Lives from its debut in November 1965 until her death on February 3, 2010.-Biography:Born in Wichita Falls, Texas,...
dies in 2010, Julie and Doug return for Alice's on screen tribute. In general, since roughly 1999, Doug and Julie have tended to come and go from Salem, appearing sporadically a few times a year whenever the storyline calls for them.
Cultural impact
Julie has been described as one of Days of our Livess most high-profile characters. Hayes has won several awards for her performance as Julie. In 1997, she won a Soapy award for outstanding lead actress in a daytime drama on her own. She has been nominated for a Daytime Emmy award four times; once in 1976, 1976, 1978 and another in 1979. The character has been received quite favorably. Hayes is known for "dominating the seventies" in the daytime genre.Critics originally praised the show for its non-reliance on nostalgia (in contrast to shows such as As the World Turns
As the World Turns
As the World Turns is an American television soap opera that aired on CBS from April 2, 1956 to September 17, 2010. Irna Phillips created As the World Turns as a sister show to her other soap opera Guiding Light...
) and its portrayal of "real American contemporary families." By the 1970s, critics deemed Days the most daring daytime drama, as it led the way in using then-controversial themes that other shows of the period avoided, such as artificial insemination
Artificial insemination
Artificial insemination, or AI, is the process by which sperm is placed into the reproductive tract of a female for the purpose of impregnating the female by using means other than sexual intercourse or natural insemination...
and interracial romance
Interracial marriage
Interracial marriage occurs when two people of differing racial groups marry. This is a form of exogamy and can be seen in the broader context of miscegenation .-Legality of interracial marriage:In the Western world certain jurisdictions have had regulations...
. The January 12, 1976 cover of Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
magazine featured Days of our Livess Bill Hayes and Susan Seaforth Hayes
Susan Seaforth Hayes
Susan Seaforth Hayes is an American dramatic actress. She is best known for her portrayal of Julie Williams on the long-running NBC drama Days of our Lives, and her intermittent portrayal of JoAnna Manning on the CBS daytime drama The Young and the Restless...
, the first and only daytime actors to ever appear on its cover. The Hayeses themselves were a couple whose onscreen and real-life romance (they met on the series in 1970 and married in 1974) was widely covered by both the soap opera magazines and the mainstream press.
See also
- Days of our LivesDays of our LivesDays of our Lives is a long running daytime soap opera broadcast on the NBC television network. It is one of the longest-running scripted television programs in the world, airing nearly every weekday in the United States since November 8, 1965. It has since been syndicated to many countries around...
- Horton family
- Doug Williams